BANG FOR YOUR BUCK: Koni adjustable or Eibach ANTI-ROLL-KIT - thoughts?

[Alvis]

Hi OH Team,

I've had my spoon springs fitted for some time now, but I think it's time to go that one step further in the new year and I'd like your thoughts.

Aim
Improve the dynamics of the car and sharpen up the handling.

Current situation
* Spoon Sport progressive springs matched to EK1 oem dampers.
* The oem dampers have 67k on them and are in excellent condition according to the last Pedders report.
* Other handling/chassis mod is a Mugen front tower bar

Possible scenarios - I can only do one of these atm!
ONE
Upgrade oem dampers to Koni Yellow adjustables:
Cost = $700 delivered/fitted.


TWO
Fit Eibach anti-roll kit with ASR subframe
RSB = 17mm (3mm thicker than an '00 model EM1/EK4)
FSB = 26mm (same spec as CTR/EM1/EK4)
http://passwordjdm.com/Eibach-Anti-R...7763C1539.aspx (note this is not the actual pic of the part, but you all know what a sway bar looks like)
Cost
= $700 for kit and ASR subframe
= $300 for harware
= $1,000 delivered


What are your thoughts on what is the best 'bang for my buck' and is going to give me the best handling improvements?

Thanks in advance for any advice,
Alvis

[meatball]

i vote koni's and why dont you buy ek9 front and rear sway? its cheaper

[curtis265]

I think the sway bars. Do you have lots of existing body roll?

[Alvis]

i vote koni's and why dont you buy ek9 front and rear sway? its cheaper

Have you got a source? The actual Eibach kit and ASR subframe = $476 US. That's pretty good value.

The hardware kit (which is the annoying part) is about $300 on top with delivery, so just over $750 complete. Shipping is about $190.

I'm not too keen on an EK9 rsb, probably overkill... but keen to at least have same/similar specs to an EM1/EK4

I think the sway bars. Do you have lots of existing body roll?

It's not too bad, but not as sharp as I'd like it to be. Still feels like I have some excess roll but want to get it sharper through the bends, without going overkill.

[stndrd]

I can source Koni direct from Australian distributor. PM if you would like me to get prices

[Riced_Civic]

I say get Konis, they will be 10X better then OEM shocks.

[quangsuke]

if u want bang for buck. save yourself the time and just go straight to coilovers. handling will outdo any of your above listed options.

[Riced_Civic]

not necessarily

[Alvis]

if u want bang for buck. save yourself the time and just go straight to coilovers. handling will outdo any of your above listed options.

not necessarily

Yeh, I agree - I purposely decided not to go down the coilover path when I bought the spoon springs - apart from the fact it would lower the car too much for my driveway, there is no reason why a quality spring/damper setup for the street can't do just a good as job - probably even better due to the sh*t nature of our roads - how bad are they with all this rain lately! But each to their own I guess...

I say get Konis, they will be 10X better then OEM shocks.

Thanks for the advice... keep it coming fellas... I'm really undecided on this mainly because my dampers are still ok, but I do understand changing the dampers to match the stiffer springs would also have additional benefits in terms of my braking as well...?

[mugen_ctr]

imo, stay away from the 26mm front swaybar, unless u want under steer...

having the 22mm fsb coupled with the 17mm rear will be adequate, i dont see the need to add more under steer, unless u wanna play it safe lol...

Id use that money towards out fitting new shockers and investing in that 17mm rsb as well....

[Alvis]

imo, stay away from the 26mm front swaybar, unless u want under steer...

having the 22mm fsb coupled with the 17mm rear will be adequate, i dont see the need to add more under steer, unless u wanna play it safe lol...

Id use that money towards out fitting new shockers and investing in that 17mm rsb as well....

Thanks mate - so pretty much what we're saying is if I add a 17mm rsb to a car that currently has no rsb, mated with the stock 22mm fsb; I'm essentially encouraging more oversteer yeh?

I'd still like the car to have more of a 'neutral' feel to it - so I figured Honda knew what they were doing when they put a 26mm on the EM1/EK4 with the 14mm rsb...

Do we know if a stock EM1/EK4 is neutral in it's handling or does it have more of an understeer feel to it?

[mugen_ctr]

Thanks mate - so pretty much what we're saying is if I add a 17mm rsb to a car that currently has no rsb, mated with the stock 22mm fsb; I'm essentially encouraging more oversteer yeh?

I'd still like the car to have more of a 'neutral' feel to it - so I figured Honda knew what they were doing when they put a 26mm on the EM1/EK4 with the 14mm rsb...

Do we know if a stock EM1/EK4 is neutral in it's handling or does it have more of an understeer feel to it?

Manufactures tend to add understeer to there cars than over steer, safety reasons lol.....

imo, see how the car feels with the 17mm and go from there... the swaybar wont add over steer, but it will create a more neutral handling, as the rear is more planted on the road... I dont see the need to go for a larger front end as it will create more of a under steer coupled with the 17mm, if u had gone for the 26mm fsb with the 22mm rsb, there i can understand as it creates a more neutral handling, but thats just me, i prefer a neutral handling car... having that combo, mite create some under steer when pushing hard around bends.

As far as honda and the ek4/em1..... i wouldnt know.... someone else can cover that lol....

Em1 Civic Si road test

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4FmV9kk09Qs

The part about body roll LOL... its quite evident the body roll is there and bucket seats!?!?!??! hahahahaha.....